October 7-12, 2025
Italy
A Luxury Tour of Puglia with Fabio
Join Fabio Manduca on an exclusive tour of Puglia from October 7–12, 2025. Stay in luxury accommodations, explore World Heritage Sites like Alberobello and Matera, and enjoy private cultural experiences, including olive oil tastings, wine exploration, and an intimate lunch at Grotta Palazzese. Let Fabio personally host you for an unforgettable week with curated experiences chosen especially by him.
To reserve your space, please contact:
Becca Wyeth
313.634.7677
or send an email to:
rwyeth@exceptionaljourneys.net
INCLUSIONS
• 5 nights at the five-star Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda, Puglia
• Daily breakfast at hotel
• Entire tour managed and hosted by Fabio
• Welcome dinner at hotel
• Roundtrip transportation and local guide for day trip to Matera
• Private group evening pasta making class
• Roundtrip transportation for visits to traditional Masseria and Polignano a Mare
• Tour and olive oil tasting at traditional Masseria
• Lunch at Grotta Palazzese in Polignano a Mare
• Roundtrip transportation and local guide for day trip to Alberobello
• Private group cooking class in Alberobello
• Roundrip transportation for day trip to Pollino National Park
• Private guide with truffle hunting dog for morning walk in Pollino National Park
• Lunch in Pollino National Park
• Farewell dinner at hotel
YOUR TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE
• International airfare
• Any necessary travel visas
• Transportation from airport to hotel upon arrival and from hotel to airport upon departure
• Meals where not specified in itinerary
• Pre- or post-trip programming
• Travel protection (see side panel for instructions on receiving a quote and purchasing a policy)
• Gratuities for drivers, guides, and tour managers
• Personal expenses and items not specified above
ITINERARY
Day 1: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - Arrival in Italy | Bernalda
Upon arrival at Bari Airport, transfer on your own to Bernalda, a town in the Basilicata region overlooking the sea from a steep plateau. Check into your hotel, the magnificent Palazzo Margherita, where you’ll enjoy the afternoon with Fabio before a convivial welcome dinner. This unique dinner is a traditional Southern Italian experience, featuring a variety of specialty pizzas served family style, alongside a selection of entrees and premium artisanal local craft beers. Overnight in Bernalda.
Day 2: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Matera
This morning, travel to the ancient town of Matera for a private tour with a local guide. Learn about Matera’s history as the “Shame of Italy” and its present-day status as a European Capital of Culture. Ride through the iconic Sassi di Matera on convertible three-wheelers and see the fantastic one-room cave dwellings. In the afternoon, return to your hotel in Bernalda and enjoy a pasta cooking class and dinner. Overnight in Bernalda.
Day 3: Thursday, October 9, 2025 - Polignano a Mare
Begin your day with a visit to a classic Masseria for a traditional olive oil tasting. These buildings, characteristic of Puglia, have been used since the Middle Ages by farmers. Afterwards, continue traveling to Polignano a Mare, one of the most spectacular and popular locations on the Apulian Coast. Enjoy lunch at the famous Grotta Palazzese, and enjoy its outdoor terrace built into a natural coastal cave. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Bernalda.
Day 4: Friday, October 10, 2025 - Alberobello
Visit Alberobello to see the Trulli houses, white homes built with Apulian dry stone that feature characteristic conical roofs. While in Alberobello, you will spend time with a local woman making homemade Orecchiette pasta, enjoying your creation for lunch along with focaccia, grilled vegetables, meatballs, and other traditional food. After lunch, enjoy a tour around the town led by your local host, who will introduce you to different types of Trulli houses. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Bernalda
Day 5: Saturday, October 11, 2025 - Pollino National Park
Travel to Pollino National Park for a morning walk through the woods, led by a truffle hunter and his trained dog. Afterwards, journey to a village in the heart of the National Park, where you will see a historic medieval cave and an ancient, native wine grape. Enjoy a light lunch that features a traditional truffle tasting accompanied by country eggs, truffle shavings, and other local food and wines. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend time at leisure before feasting on a farewell dinner at your hotel. This dinner, set in the courtyard and surrounded by lush historical gardens, features a family-style table filled with several delicacies and local foods. Overnight in Bernalda.
Day 6: Sunday, October 12, 2025 Return Home
After checking out of your hotel and saying goodbye to Fabio, transfer independently to the airport for your return flight home.
Itinerary is tentative and subject to change
PRICES STARTING AT
$5,999* - Price per person, double occupancy
*This price reflects a $500 per person Early Booking Discount for deposits received before March 25, 2025 and a 3% per person Check Discount for those paying the total cost of the tour by Check. Payment must be received on or before the final payment due date.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT + $1,000
TRAVEL PROTECTION:
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel protection is highly recommended.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND CANCELLATION TERMS:
Deposit: 50% due upon registration
Second Deposit: Balance due on or before August 7, 2025
Please note late payments will incur a $50 late fee.
All cancellations must be received in writing. Payments are non-refundable and subject to CTS Terms and Conditions, including the CTS Liability Release. CTS reserves the right to cancel any reservation if payments are not made according to the payment schedule. A $25 fee will be added to any reinstated reservation.
BY REGISTERING FOR THIS PILGRIMAGE YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO CORPORATE TRAVEL’S TERMS & CONDITIONS
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